Despite some flashes of it, the Los Angeles Angels have yet to find their consistent stride as they continue their homestand with a three-game set against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays.
The Angels head into Monday’s series opener having scored one run in each of their last two games, their offense blanked by good pitching by the San Diego Padres — and turn their attention to a date with an ace in the series opener.
Below, you can find the team previews, including where to watch, game details, injury reports, and odds.
Angels (11-12, 3rd in AL West): A lot more has clicked for the Angels than most have anticipated. Pitching looks more complete, while the lineup, top-to-bottom, has been producing and taking long at-bats.
However, one trend has been consistent with the Angels — it is seemingly more difficult to win baseball games when José Soriano is not on the mound.
Otherwise, it is easier to win ballgames. Soriano and the Angels have won each one of his starts. Outside of that, the Angels hold a record of 6-12, dropping back-to-back games to the Padres after another Soriano gem on Friday. But that doesn’t mean the Angels have struggled in a particular facet.
The Padres came into the weekend series on the heels of an eight-game winning streak. The Angels silenced their offense to just six runs in the three games, despite losing two of those contests. Manager Kurt Suzuki took notice of it, and was impressed with Walbert Urena’s six clean innings in his first career start on Sunday.
They have good reason to hope that same success on the mound will translate to their set with the Blue Jays. Reid Detmers opens the series on Monday, looking to build on what has been an impressive month for him.
The same applies to righty Jack Kochanowicz, who will follow Detmers on Tuesday and make his fifth start of the year. Soriano will look to extend his historic start to the year in the series finale on Wednesday.
On Sunday, the Angels got one of their best bats back in slugger Jorge Soler, who wrapped up his four-game suspension. Soler sits among the top-three in OPS on the team, with Mike Trout leading the team in the category and home runs.
Blue Jays (8-13, 5th in AL West): Toronto’s start to the season is not what most have anticipated, especially for a team fresh off a World Series that felt at grasp. Instead, they sit at the bottom of the AL East 21 games into the season.
Injuries have struck them like a truck. Nearly their entire starting rotation sits on the injured list, while many key positions players also are injury-riddled. Starters Josè Berríos, Shane Bieber, Cody Ponce and postseason hero Trey Yesavage all are on the injured list. Their pitching depth has been tested, and has even been in limbo.
The same has even applied towards their batting order, which has seen more recent trouble. Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger and George Springer, who has 30 career homers against the Angels, are all currently on the injured list
Not much has gone right for Toronto, but Sunday’s result was promising. After losing the first two games of their weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, they jumped on Ryne Nelson to score eight runs in the first inning, their offense looking the most alive it has been in the early parts of the year.
Fortunately for them, they will look to get back on track behind their biggest offseason splash on the mound Monday, starter Dylan Cease. The righty has excelled in his track record against the Angels, tossing 50 strikeouts over seven starts.
They will look to earn their first series win since their season-opening series against the Athletics at the end of March.
LAA: Jack Kochanowicz (2-0, 3.47 ERA, 23.1 IP, 18 SO)
TOR: OF Daulton Varsho (Day-to-day), RP Lazaro Estrada (15-day IL), SP Trey Yesavage (15-day IL), SP Josè Berríos (15-day IL), George Springer (10-day IL), RF/3B Addison Barger (10-day IL), SP Shane Bieber (60-day IL), RP Yimi Garcia (15-day IL), SP Cody Ponce (60-day IL), C Alejandro Kirk (10-day IL), OF Anthony Santander (60-day IL), RP Bowden Francis (60-day IL),
LAA: SP Ryan Johnson (15-day IL), RP Kirby Yates (15-day IL), SP Grayson Rodriguez (15-day IL), SP Alek Manoah (15-day IL), RP Ben Joyce (15-day IL), RP Robert Stephenson (60-day IL), 3B Anthony Rendon (60-day IL)